bitolterol mesylate, Tornalate

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

GENERIC NAME: bitolterol mesylate

BRAND NAME: (Tornalate: This brand no longer is available in the U.S. and
there are no generic versions.)

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Bitolterol is a bronchodilator used in the
treatment of
asthma. It is similar to
albuterol
(Ventolin). Asthma is a disorder of breathing in which there is narrowing of the
airways that carry air to the lungs including the bronchi. This narrowing is
caused by muscle spasm and inflammation within the airways. Bitolterol relaxes
the smooth muscles surrounding these airways, increasing the diameter and thus
easing the flow of air through the airways. Bitolterol probably does not affect
inflammation in the lung either with asthma or other inflammatory lung disorders
such as
bronchitis. Nevertheless, if spasm of the airways occurs because of
bronchitis, bitolterol may be useful therapy for the asthmatic component of the
illness. Bitolterol is unique in that it is a "prodrug;" It must first be
converted by the body into its active form. Bitolterol has a rapid onset of
action (2-5 minutes), and its effects may last up to 6-8 hours. The FDA approved
bitolterol in December 1984.